Hamlet: By Royal Shakespeare Company at Norwich Theatre Royal
By Rachel Ducker for Bounce Magazine
There’s something quietly thrilling about heading to the theatre on a weeknight, far removed from the drudgery of our everyday existence. So during the week, my friend and I set off for Norwich Theatre Royal to have an early look at the Royal Shakespeare Company’s touring production of Hamlet – here are my thoughts.
The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) has long made a name for itself by producing bold and imaginative interpretations of the works of William Shakespeare, and this latest production, directed by the acclaimed Rupert Goold, certainly lives up to the hype.
A timeless story, powerfully retold
Not familiar with the epic of Hamlet? Well, this is a quick crash course: Prince of Denmark, Hamlet, finds himself at the centre of a whirlwind of change when he discovers that his mother, the widow to the former King of Denmark, has agreed to marry his own uncle, his father’s brother. As he watches in horror at the way the world he knows turns upside down, Hamlet is roused to a severe anger and begins to search for the truth behind his father’s death, eventually uncovering the vile corruption of a world in which crime and its punishment seem to feed into a cycle of revenge with certain catastrophe its inescapable result.
This is a story that most of us have studied at school, and it is brilliant to see it on stage, brought to life by such a wonderful cast of actors.
A compelling performance
Ralph Davis delivers a gripping portrayal of Hamlet, acting the part with great drama, sensitivity and humour. He made you feel Hamlet to be a completely real and human person wrestling with the profound issues that he himself describes in that speech when he ponders in soliloquy whether to be or not to be.
Language and vocabulary appear to be contemporary, and the set, lighting and staging are effective in creating the timelessness of a world that is both ancient and also very present.
Theatre that pulls you in
I felt that the whole evening was really immersive and even included a performance by the Sea Shanties before the production started. The cast whirled us through an evening of dark humour, tension and heartbreak with barely a moment to draw breath. The scene before the interval truly left us hanging.
A must-see production
A drama that was first performed more than 400 years ago, Hamlet has already made a successful West End debut following its UK tour premiere in Stratford this summer, and it’s easy to predict a future full of praise for this touring production. Rupert Goold brings a bold and inventive direction to one of the greatest plays ever written, updating the ancient drama into a thoroughly contemporary work that is remarkably faithful to the spirit of Shakespeare’s words.
A must-see for all theatre lovers – whether you are a long-standing Shakespeare enthusiast or an Othello novice.
Final thoughts:
A devastating and unflinching take on one of the greatest plays in the world. Brimming with drama and power, this cast of highly acclaimed actors brings the stage to life as the universally loved and infamous Hamlet wrestles with the darker aspects of human nature, an emotion that has not changed in over 400 years.
If you’re looking for things to do in Norwich, catching a production at Norwich Theatre Royal should absolutely be on your list.
